Everything you need to know about taxes as a freelancer, self-employed worker, or digital nomad in Portugal. IRS, VAT, Social Security — explained in plain English.
Portugal has a straightforward tax system for freelancers, but there are specific rules around registration, income categories, VAT thresholds, and Social Security contributions that can be confusing — especially if you're new to the country.
Here's what every freelancer needs to know:
From registration to annual IRS filing, our certified accountants manage everything in English. Starting from €29/month.
Complete accounting and tax services for freelancers delivered in English
We register your freelance activity at the Tax Authority (Financas) with the correct CAE code. Includes NIF setup, VAT regime selection, and Social Security enrolment.
We handle all your electronic invoice (green receipt) issuance through the Tax Authority portal, including correct withholding tax and IRS category declarations.
Complete annual IRS return for self-employed income, maximising deductions, correctly applying the simplified regime coefficients, and claiming eligible business expenses.
Quarterly or monthly VAT returns filed on time. We ensure you meet all obligations, claim input VAT credits, and comply with intra-community trade rules if applicable.
Monthly Social Security declarations (DMR), contribution calculations, and optimisation. We help you understand the base rate and available reductions.
Specialised support for foreign freelancers, digital nomads, and cross-border workers. Double taxation treaty optimisation, NHR regime applications, and multi-currency income handling.
Freelancers pay IRS (income tax) on a progressive scale (from around 13% to 48%), but under the simplified regime you only pay tax on 75% of your service income. Social Security is 21.4% on 1/3 of your income. VAT (IVA) applies separately if you exceed the exemption threshold of €15,000/year (Art. 53.º CIVA).
Yes, anyone performing independent work in Portugal must register their activity with the Tax Authority (Financas) before starting. This involves selecting the correct CAE code (Category B for services) and determining your VAT and Social Security obligations.
Accounting services for freelancers in Portugal typically range from €29 to €80 per month, depending on invoice volume, VAT complexity, and whether full IRS filing is included. Contact us for a personalised quote.
Yes, foreigners can work as freelancers in Portugal. EU citizens can register directly at Financas. Non-EU citizens need a valid residence visa (such as D2 Entrepreneur or D7 Passive Income) and a NIF with fiscal representation. We help with the entire process.
The simplified regime (regime simplificado) is the default tax system for freelancers in Portugal earning under €200,000/year. Under this regime, only 75% of your service income is taxable (the remaining 25% is considered professional expenses), significantly reducing your IRS bill.
IRS for freelancers is filed annually between April 1 and June 30. VAT (IVA) is filed quarterly (by the 20th of the month following each quarter) or monthly if you exceed certain thresholds. Social Security is declared monthly via DMR.
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